President Mustafa Akinci has called on UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres to personally undertake action to convene an unofficial five-party meeting to clarify the process aimed at finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.
In a letter sent to the UNSG on 10 July 2019, Akinci underlined the importance of an unofficial meeting between all side to overcome the soonest possible what he called “blurriness” created by statements made by the Greek Cypriot leader.
Noting that finding a solution in Cyprus became more urgent due to the increasing tension in the area, Akinci said that the only way was to work sincerely to this end. He said that, because of various messages regarding the basis of the solution given by the Greek Cypriot leadership to different interlocutors at different times and different occasions, confusion had been created as to whether the Greek Cypriot side had really the intention of finding a comprehensive solution. He argued that the issue of whether all sides had the same view regarding the target of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal solution based on political equality should be clarified and made a call on the UNSG regarding the formation of an unofficial five-party meeting in order to confirm that the sides concerned had the same target.
According to Akinci, if necessary, the sides could benefit from EU experts, just as had happened in the past during the Cyprus negotiations. He argued that if common ground was established, a clear timetable should be set in a process focused on the solution under the UNSG’s leadership.
Akinci said that he had felt the need to share his views and concerns with the UNSG regarding the situation at this stage, during which Jane Holl Lute’s contacts entered into deadlock and tension in the Eastern Mediterranean increased. He recalled that in the past, he had suggested that during the preparation of the terms of reference the sides should clearly state their commitment to the past convergences, the 11 February 2014 Agreement and the six-point framework set by the UNSG on 30 June 2017 at Crans Montana.
Noting that what he was suggesting, in other words, was for the sides to reaffirm their commitment to the agreements of the past, Akinci said that the Greek Cypriot side had taken a step back from these agreements, the statement of 11 February [2014] and especially from the agreements on the issue of governance and power sharing.
Moreover, Akinci reiterated that the Turkish Cypriots were harmed by the existing status quo and lived in uncertainty. He further expressed the view that the mandate of the UNFICYP should not be a means for the continuation of the status quo in Cyprus.
Kibris
